Set in 19th century Mexico, Carlota Moreau grew up in the distant Yucatán peninsula with her father, a doctor devoted to pushing the boundaries of medicine funded by an influential patron with the help of an assistant, Montgomery Laughton. Their lives in the luxuriant estate are peaceful until the abrupt arrival of a charming yet careless young man, who happens to be the son of Doctor Moreau's funder. Trouble brews on the horizon for the Moreaus as Carlota explores womanhood and discovers hidden secrets from the men around her.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is an intriguing historical fiction based on The Island of Doctor Moreau, initially published in 1896. While there are science fiction aspects because of Moreau's work, it's not the book's focus. Instead, Silvia Moreno-Gracia focuses on the two main characters, Carlota and Montgomery, and the chapters alternate between their POVs. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is exceptionally well written, but the pacing is awkward. It moves incredibly slow in the first half and almost too fast for character development towards the end. I also kept waiting for more spice, but the story never quite reached that point. Overall, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a solid read, especially for those interested in the intersection of historical fiction and sci-fi.